Cole Hamels gave up eight runs and 12 hits in his outing against the Dominican Republic. / Matt Slocum, AP

by Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY Sports

by Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY Sports

CLEARWATER, Fla. - There will be no official documentation of Cole Hamels' outing on Tuesday.

And he's eternally grateful for that.

Hamels was just getting his proverbial spring work in against the Dominican Republic's World Baseball Classic team. Since it was an exhibition - not even a Grapefruit League game - Hamels' 12-hit, eight-run pratfall against arguably the world's most potent lineup won't even be reflected in his spring training statistics.

"Thank goodness," Hamels said, "that didn't count."

Indeed, Hamels - throwing mostly fastballs - had his pitches peppered all over Bright House Field by a Dominican club that looked ready to run through a wall when the WBC begins Thursday in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Jose Reyes ripped a pair of hits and a home run, Hanley Ramirez had a pair of doubles, and even 38-year-old Miguel Tejada's bat looked spry as Hamels got ambushed even before he could so much as think about establishing a breaking ball.

After ducking the line drives, he tipped his cap - and also offered up why he figures to never participate in the World Baseball Classic.

"I ran into a bullet today," he said. "They're very good at what they do."

And they were considerably ahead of Hamels at this stage of the spring. He was making his third start, and said his preparation and progression each spring would preclude him from ever participating in a WBC.

When asked who would be well-suited to play in the event, he pondered the question and replied, "Someone who plays winter ball."

In fact, Ramirez, Tejada, Carlos Santana and Nelson Cruz were among the Dominican superstars in Tuesday's lineup that did play winter ball. And while two-time defending WBC champion Japan doesn't participate in winter league, its spring training begins sooner, and thus its players are a bit better-prepared than its American counterparts for the quadrennial event.

Barring a strong showing by the U.S., the event may not gain much traction stateside. Whether it does or not, don't figure on Hamels participating.

"My alliegances are to the Phillies and the organization winning a World Series. I think winning a World Series is a little more important thanā?¦I don't know, whatever trophy they give out for the World Baseball Classic."